Switching Medigap Plans

Learn the best way to switch your Medicare Supplement plan

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D have annual election open-enrollment each year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7th where you can seamlessly switch from one plan to another. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, on the other hand, do not have an annual switching period. You may have been told that switching Medigap is difficult. While this can be true, here is all the information you need to switch plans when you’re over 65 and no longer in your Medigap initial enrollment period.

Everyone Can Switch Medigap Plans By Answering Medical Questions

Whether you want to switch from Medigap plan F to plan G or you just want to work with a different insurance company, you can do so at any time by submitting a new application. In most states, you will have to answer medical questions and could be turned down for pre-existing conditions. In some cases, you can be charged more if you switch after your initial enrollment period. We have learned by experience that some insurance companies ask fewer medical questions and have easier standards for approval than others. If you don’t fall under one of the states that offer guaranteed switching period (see below), call us at 800-930-7956. We can match you with the best Medigap insurance company based on your current health status. We have had great success in this arena.

Some States Allow Switching Without Medical Questions

Lucky you if you live in one of the states listed below. These states have laws that will allow you to switch from one Medigap plan to another without answering medical questions. Even if you move to a new insurance company, you will be approved without medical review. See below for each state’s rules:

California and Oregon have the Medigap Birthday Rule. If you are currently enrolled in a Medigap plan, you can change each year during your birth month with no medical questions asked. Learn more about the Birthday Rule here. Compare CA Medigap prices here.

Special Circumstances Equals Free Switching

All states have Medigap guaranteed issuance rules for certain circumstances after 65. Moving out of state, for example, would trigger a special enrollment period where you would be guaranteed to be approved without medical review. Learn more about Special Enrollment Options here

Reader Comments and Questions

If i switch from a Plan F to a Plan G midyear, will i have to pay the part B deductible if my Plan F already paid it?

Aaron,
Medicare keeps track of the deductible, not the Medigap carrier. If you switched from Plan F to G, say, in April, and the Medicare deductible was met while you were still on Plan F, then your deductible should be covered for the whole year.
-Chris from Senior65.com

By Lynne on March 24, 2019

Hello. I live in California (San Diego County) and turn 65 in October. i plan to purchase an F Plan Extra (includes some vision and hearing benefits). Even though Medicare will no longer be selling F Plans after 2019, would I be able to switch to a regular F Plan with the same company or change companies and purchase another F Plan Extra or regular F Plan from them? Or will I be stuck with the original F Plan I purchase in 2019 (unless, of course, I want to change to a G Plan at some point down the road)?
Also, do you know where on the web I can find rate increase history for Blue Shield of Ca., Anthem, and Mutual of Omaha in my area.
Thank you.

Lynne,
Since you are qualifying for Medicare before 2020, you should be able to purchase Medigap Plan F or F Extra, as well as switching plans and companies in the future. You can read more about it in our article Medigap Plan F 2020 Rules

When you are ready to enroll, please don't hesitate to call us. We can help you at no additional cost to you! You can also sign up for F extra here.

-Michelle from Senior65.com
P.S. To get information on rate history, please give us a call.

By kurt on February 22, 2019

AFTER ENROLING IN MEDICARE AND A MEDIGAP(SAY PLAN G) AND YOU GO BACK TO WORK FULL TIME WITH EMPLOYERS INSURANCE I READ WHER YOU CAN SUSPEND PART B. IF YOU DO SO WILL YOU LOSE PLAN G COVERAGE OR CAN IT BE KEPT OR SUSPENDED AS WELL. THANKS, KURT

Kurt,
You would not be able to keep your Medigap plan if you suspended your Medicare Part B. Medigap requires that you have both Part A and Part B active. Let us know if you need help in enrolling in a plan. -Michelle from Senior65

By Constance on February 13, 2019

My husband turns 65 this year April 2019. He has an employer retiree plan with Bluecross which he can remain on and it has a Medicare approved prescription drug plan. In five years his wife will turn 65. Under Medicare.gov he has Original Medicare A and B and his employer plan is secondary to Medicare. Under Guarantee issue rights it says he can’t be denied mediator policy, they must cover all pre-existing conditions and they can’t charge him more for the policy because of past or present health conditions. Would he be able to apply for plan F in 5 years because he falls under this guarantee issue rights?

Constance,
Based on the information you shared he should be able to apply for a Medigap plan in 5 years under guaranteed issue when his employer-sponsored retiree plan ends.

When he does, send him to Senior65. We would love to help him sign up!
-Chris from Senior65.com

By Sarah on November 07, 2018

I am choosing a med gap f or g new to all this will turn 65 December , Will start to pay for premiums December 1 , i also pay for insurance for my job 400.00 and will be paying this in December is there anything I can do not to pay for both it will be 0ver 800.00 also need to know a good plan for drugs one of my prescriptions would cost me 500 a month .

Sarah,
You can request that your Medigap F or G starts on January 1 to avoid double paying for coverage. We are able to help you select your start date (called effective date) up to 6 months past your Part B effective date if necessary. We can also help you select a drug plan. Picking the right plan depends on which prescription you currently take. Please give us a call at 800-930-7956. -Eric from Senior65.com

By Diana on October 05, 2017

I will be turning 65 this year and need to pick a Medicare Supplement plan. Have spoken to many people and have several quotes which are all comparable. How can you find out from past history which company has had the higher rate increase and are the rate increases based on age i.e. as we get older the rates increase greater with age.
Thanks

Diana, while there isn't a historical record of rate increase, we can help you look at rate sheets to see what companies charge older members over time. Please contact us if you would like help with this.
Chris from Senior65.com

By Lawrence on September 18, 2017

I am 68 and I have a medical F plan with Anthem Blue Cross in California. I have been diagnosed with a kidney cancer and am due to have surgery on October 3. If I choose to switch Medigap from Anthem to another company, United Healthcare, am I allowed to without answering questions? Will it cost me more, or less?

Lawrence,
Since you live in CA you can switch in your birthday month to another company and you will have to be approved regardless of you Medical history. If the new insurance provider's monthly premium is lower it will save you money. Please call if you want assistance with this.
-Chris from Senior65.com

By Kady on May 25, 2017

I am new to Medicare and I am having a hard time deciding whether to do Medigap or Medicare Advantage. I am about to turn 65 and I am healthy. I have seen a Medicare Advantage policy with no premium and they offer RX drug plan and some dental and vision coverage and gym membership. But another ins rep said if I get sick it will end up costing me more because of co pays and coinsurance and it would be hard to switch to Medigap once you have medical conditions. He also said that 0 premium won't last.

Kady,
A lot of people have your predicament, should I choose Medicare Advantage or Medigap? Medicare Advantage plans with their $0 -low monthly premium are very enticing! Just a few things to remember with Med Advantage, 1) you have a limited, local network of doctors and hospitals 2) if you choose an HMO (which most are) you can wait longer to be approved for certain tests than Original Medicare takes to give approval 3) if you do get sick, you have a limited amount of specialists; therefore, you have longer wait times to see your doctor, and 4) if you get sick or injured, you can be nickeled and dimed with copays and coinsurance.

Now, if you go with a Medigap plan you will generally pay a lot more per month, but you have access to the largest network of doctors and hospitals in the nation (Original Medicare's network), and, depending on the plan, you could have all of your out of pocket expenses covered.

Our suggestion is, if you can afford Medigap, go Medigap. If you cannot, we can help you find the right Medicare Advantage plan for you. For help with either, call one of our Senior65 licensed independent insurance agents at 800-930-7956.
-Amy from https://www.senior65.com/

By jeff on December 01, 2016

An insurance agent is telling me that if I am in plan F after it is discontinued in 2020 I will be allowed to stay, but the premiums will skyrocket. Therefore, I should stay in plan G. Is this true?

Jeff,
For sure, you can keep your Plan F after 2020. However, unfortunately, no one can foresee what Plan F will cost after. If you need help choosing a plan call one of our Senior65 licensed independent insurance agents at 800-930-7956.
-Chris from https://www.senior65.com/

By Judy on October 23, 2016

My husband is on plan A due to being under 65 and on disability. Next year he will turn 65. Will he be able to switch to a different plan such as F or G without a medical review? We live in Texas.

Judy,
Yes he will! When he turns 65, his initial enrollment period will begin again. He will have 6 months to enroll in any Medigap plan in his area. When the time comes, if he needs help finding a Medigap plan, have him call one of our Senior65 licensed independent insurance agents at 800-930-7956.
-Michelle from https://www.senior65.com/

By Fred Reid on August 26, 2016

I have a plan F supplement insurance policy with Mutual of Omaha, can I switch to a plan G with Mutual of Omaha without going through the motions of having to complete a new application? They already have my medical information.

Fred,
Great question! Unfortunately, the answer is probably not, because in most states you do not have a Medicare Supplement switching right. I know that wasn't what you were looking to hear. However, you can always apply, and we have many clients who are approved. If you're interested in switching from Plan F to Plan G, call one of our Senior65 licensed independent agents at 800-930-7956.
-Chris from https://www.senior65.com/

By David on May 17, 2016

I live in Mass, where there are only two type of "Medigap" plans will these plans be accepted in other states and how do I compare a Mass Medex plan (upper level not standard) to say a Medigap plan G

David,
Your Massachuessett's Medigap plan can be used for health care in any other state, as long as you live in MA. Once you move out of MA you will need to change your plan. When this happens, you will have a guaranteed issuance period to enroll in another Medigap plan in your new state. If this is your case, please call one of our licensed independent insurance agents at 800-930-7956.
-Amy from https://www.senior65.com/

By Bryce on March 09, 2016

I am 73 and was cleared of cancer at 66, and I have no other health issues. Will I be denied for a preexisting condition?

Bryce,
Most likely, since you were cleared of cancer over 5 years ago, that this will not be part of the Medigap medical underwriting, but each company asks different questions, so it's hard to give a definitive answer. We consider ourselves the Medigap switching experts, so contact us at 800-930-7956, and we'll help you find the best plan that meets your needs.
-Chris from https://www.senior65.com/

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